grant "variances," or exemp-

tion. from local zoning ordi-

nances, to small developers.
..It's almost the exception to
the rule when a variance isn't
granted." Lopping said, Herec-
ommended that Gov. Richard
Snelling'. order. which re-
quires consideration of the
agricultural impact of any
state-sponsored construction
prl>ject, become law. The law
should beadministered by the
Agriculture Department rather
than the Executive Depart-
ment, he said.
Lapping urged a hard-
headed and realistic appraisal
of the state's environmental
problems. "The idea that this
is Vermont Life country is one
that we should keep denying
because it's unhealthy," he
said, He pointed out that Ver-
mont's population has cleared
the 500.000 mark and that it
now has a "real city" within its
borders. At the same time,
Vermont has the third lowest
per capita income in the na-
tion: "We don't live in a
Grandma Moses painting," he
said.
Marion MacDonald
Bernard Sanders
S a n d e r s A n n o u n c e s C o a l i t i o n t o
S t a g e M a y o r a l C a m p a i g n
BURLINGTON
B
ERNARD SANDERS
announced his candidacy
for mayor of Burlington
last week, saying he believes
the average citizen, rather
than real estate developers and
other city power brokers, must
determine the future of B ur-
lington.
As mayor. Sanders said he
would involve more working
people and youth on comrnis-
sions that determine city poli-
cy. "These commissions too
often reflect the needs of special
interest group s," he said. And
hecited as campaign issues the
Southern Connector highway,
the proposed l8story condo-
minium water front develop-
ment, and the $77 million Med-
ical Cen ter Hoa pital of
Vermont (MCHVl expansion
all of which he opposes.
"I will totally oppose any
more urban development proj-
ects which benefit the real
estate developers and their al-
lie. at the expense of the ordi-
nary citiz~n and taxpayer,"
Sander. said.
"Ifpresent trends continue
and if Mr. Paquette. Mr. Porn:
erleau and Mr. Pizzaga llj,etc.
have their way, B urlington will
become a city studded with
$150,000 condominiums, $500
amonth rental units. Radisson
Hotel. and fancy boutiques.
Under this type of urban de-
velopment mentality there will
beno place in the future of this
city for the people of modest
income who, unfortunately,
constitute the vast majority of
our population," Sanders
said. "These people are simply
going to besqueezed out of this
city a. they have been for the
last number of years."
Instead of high priced con-
domini urns, Sanders said he
would like to see the construe-
tion of large numbers of mod-
erate and low income housing
units "to begin to deal with the
major housing crisis we are
facing." The 39-year old politi-
cal veteran, who has lived here
10years. said he also supports
"legal controls" over landlords
who raise rent excessively or
evict tenants arbitrarily, city-
wide property tax reassess-
ment and reform, and im-
Continued on page 12
Continued frompage 7
proved salaries for city
employees.
Sanders said hewould like to
see the city tax structure over-
hauled so "those individuals
and institutions who own val-
uable property ... assume their
fair share of the tax burden."
Reassessment would "bringin
considerably larger sums of
money from downtown Bur-
lington than at present - low-
ering the tax burden on home-
owners, Uhe said.
Noting that the MCHV ex-
pansion project is"tangential"
to city affairs but would in-
vel ve him as mayor, Sanders
said he was strongly opposed
to the project and to the tax-
exempt status tbe Medical
Center and University of
Vermont have enjoyed to date.
"The Medical Center, which
wants to spend $77 million on
an expansion project ... does
not have the money. apparent-
ly, to pay anything (to the city
of Burlington) in lieu of taxes.
We Question the wisdom, equi-
ty or decency of having low in-
come homeowners supporting
the needs of wealthy institu-
tions such as the University of
Vermont and MCHV," San-
ders said. ,..
The Medical Center expan-
sion plans are unresponsive to
the actual health and financial
concerns of city residents, he
said. ulf we are concerned
about the real health of our
people, rather than Mr. Pizza-
gaiii's bank account, then $77
million must be spent on pre-
ventive health care, housing
and the development of pro-
ductive jobs, not for the expan-
sion ofa hospital which is con-
trolled by the major business
elements of our community,"
Sanders said.
Sanders is running as a
member of the Independent
Coalition, which plans to run
candidates for "virtually every
seat on the Board of Aldermen
and School Board." Ward four
Republican Dick Sartelle has
announced his candidacy for
Alderman on the Independent
Coalition ticket and J ohn Bart-
lett, also of Ward four, will be
a candidate for the Scbool
Board.
In order to have his name
placed on the ballot, Sanders
must obtain -srgnatures of 5
percen t of the registered voters
in Burlington. According to
City Clerk Frank Wagner, who
will make the petitions availa-
ble J anuary first, about 1,400
signatures will be needed. The
petitions are due back in the
city clerk's office by January
26.
-Debbie Boohchin